Monday's Public Sector Strike: What Immigrants with AIMA Appointments Need to Know

The public sector strike called for Monday, March 23, will ripple across hospitals, schools, and government offices. But for Portugal's immigrant community, the stoppage carries a particular sting: those with long-awaited appointments at AIMA, the migration and asylum agency, and at the IRN, which handles nationality applications, face the prospect of being pushed to the back of queues that already stretch for months.

A Strike at the Worst Time

The Federation of Independent Public Administration Unions (FESINAP) has called the 24-hour walkout across central, regional, and local government, as well as the public business sector and social solidarity institutions. FESINAP's secretary-general has predicted "strong" participation, with healthcare and education expected to be the hardest-hit sectors.

For immigrants, the timing is painful. AIMA has been working to clear a backlog that peaked near 900,000 pending cases in September 2024. Progress has been real but uneven -- many applicants report months of waiting even after their cases are approved, particularly for delivery of residence cards. A strike day means cancelled appointments that may not be rescheduled quickly.

"On normal days, it's already difficult to be seen at the IRN," lawyer Elaine Linhares told Publico. "With a strike, the situation worsens. We can't forget that the IRN has accumulated more than 500,000 pending nationality cases. There are immigrants waiting for a response since 2021."

More Disruption on the Horizon

Monday's strike is not an isolated event. Another stoppage is planned for March 30, this time involving AIMA's socio-cultural mediators -- the frontline staff who interact directly with immigrants at service centres. The mediators' union has confirmed minimum services will be maintained, but throughput will drop significantly.

The strike comes at a particularly sensitive moment. The government recently fast-tracked new deportation legislation -- the so-called Return Law -- that tightens rules for undocumented immigrants and extends maximum detention from 60 days to potentially one year. For those caught in bureaucratic limbo, with applications pending but no documentation in hand, the intersection of administrative delays and tougher enforcement creates real anxiety.

Digital Alternatives, Slowly

AIMA has been expanding its online services, recently launching digital data updates and a contact form where immigrants can flag issues with their cases. The agency is also spending 208,000 euros to build a unified digital portal for immigration services. These are steps in the right direction, but they cannot replace in-person appointments for biometrics, interviews, and card collection.

For those with Monday appointments, the practical advice is straightforward: check AIMA's and IRN's official channels over the weekend for cancellation notices, keep all documentation ready for rescheduling, and consider contacting a lawyer if your case is time-sensitive, particularly in light of the new enforcement rules.

Minimum services will be maintained in emergency healthcare and essential security functions. Schools may close or operate with reduced staff. Public transport disruptions are possible but not confirmed as of Saturday morning.

See also: Portugal's Labor Reform Heads to Parliament

See also: Portugal Approves Deportation Bill

Background: See the STTS national health-sector strike on 4-5 May.

Background: See STTS calls a 24-hour health-sector stoppage for Monday and Tuesday with a 5 May Hospital Santa Maria demonstration.